Gleneagles is leading the way in giving event professionals the sustainability proof clients now expect.

At Gleneagles, being responsible custodians of the land we care for and the experiences we create has long been part of who we are. Sustainability isn’t something we do alongside our business; it’s woven into everything we do.

From the food we serve and the suppliers we work with to the way we look after our land, sustainability has become part of everyday life at Gleneagles. That’s why we’ve been proud members of Green Tourism since first achieving certification in 2008.

Over the years, our approach to sustainability has evolved significantly. More recently, we’ve adopted a holistic Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) approach, ensuring sustainability is embedded across every part of our business. Green Tourism has played an important role in supporting that journey, helping us to turn ambition into action.

A framework that drives continuous improvement

One of the things we value most about Green Tourism is that it provides a practical framework to work towards. Their three pillars help break sustainability into clear, manageable areas, making it easier to embed into every aspect of our business.

For us, Green Tourism has never been about simply achieving a certification; it’s about challenging ourselves to keep improving. The guidance, tools and action plans give us the building blocks to move forward, while the expert advice from the team and the opportunity to learn from other businesses through networking have been invaluable.

We have five pillars of responsibility which guide and frame our commitment to making a positive difference:

• Conserve Nature – we work tirelessly to conserve nature, supporting healthy ecosystems for future generations
• Source Responsibly – we’re committed to working collaboratively with suppliers who meet our high sustainability values to create a positive impact in our local communities and beyond
• Protect Our Planet – to support a healthy planet, we’re taking action to minimise our carbon footprint and are committed to reaching net-zero by 2040
• Give Back – we’re dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of those who need it most through key charity partnerships, community engagement, fundraising and volunteering opportunities for our team
• Nurture Talent – through a range of initiatives, support schemes, scholarships and partnerships, we’re dedicated to nurturing the next generation of talent and supporting people to realise their potential

Measuring what matters

Understanding our environmental impact was a vital first step towards helping us reduce it.

In 2024, we worked with the Carbon Trust to establish emissions baselines for both Gleneagles Hotel and Gleneagles Townhouse, giving us valuable insights into where our main emissions hotspots lie and helping us prioritise where we can make reductions.

In addition to assessing ways to reduce emissions within our control. We’re working collaboratively with our food suppliers to enhance traceability throughout our supply chain. For example, our seafood supplier George Campbell & Sons recently helped us analyse what proportion of the seafood served across our restaurants comes from Scottish waters, giving us a clear benchmark and helping to shape future sourcing targets.

The breathtaking surroundings at The Gleneagles Hotel are more than a landscape – they’re a natural legacy we’re working tirelessly to protect for future generations.

In March 2026, we carried out a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey across our 850 acres. Using drone and laser technology, we created a detailed 3D map of our land, enabling us to calculate the above ground biomass and estimate how much carbon is stored within the trees, hedgerows and vegetation. This survey has given us an important benchmark for the carbon stored across our land, and one we hope to repeat  in around five years’ time to assess the impact of our ongoing tree planting efforts.

Bringing our people and guests with us

Our sustainability journey is something we want everyone to be part of.

Across the business we have a range of sustainability related committees and volunteering opportunities, bringing sustainability to life for our people and providing opportunities for our everyone to get involved.  Over the last 18 months, through paid volunteering, we planted 2,000 native trees on the PGA Centenary Course allowing valuable time for our people to get back to nature and support good mental health and wellbeing.

Embedding sustainability within our guest journey, many of our activities help guests connect with the breathtaking landscape around them. Nature boards are dotted across our grounds share interesting facts which are both informative and educational, communicating just how special our surroundings are.

We believe collaboration is just as important as action. We aim to be category-leaders in hospitality and are passionate about sharing knowledge and working with industry groups to promote best practice that drives meaningful change.

Supporting our guests’ sustainability goals

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a real shift in what our corporate customers are looking for.

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have”. It’s an essential part of the conversation. More organisations are asking detailed questions about our environmental performance, requesting sustainability credentials and wanting to understand how their events can have a lower impact.

In response, we launched our complimentary event footprinting service in 2024, calculating the carbon footprint of events held at The Gleneagles Hotel. Our expert teams work with event organisers to consider low carbon menu options and provide guidance around low-impact activities.

The response has been incredibly positive. Our clients value being able to bring their teams together in a setting that supports wellbeing while knowing their event aligns with their own sustainability goals. It’s been incredibly rewarding to help customers make more informed choices and demonstrate the impact those choices can have.

Looking ahead

We’re really proud of how far we’ve come, but we know there’s always more to do. Our goals for the coming years include:

• Reducing food waste by 60% by 2030
• Reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% and Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030
• Transitioning 80% of our vehicle fleet to fully electric by 2030
• Planting 3,000 trees by the end of 2026 (with 2,000 already planted by June 2026)

Looking back over nearly 20 years with Green Tourism, one thing stands out above all else: sustainability is about continuous improvement.

Green Tourism has helped us challenge ourselves, celebrate our progress and identify where we can go further. As the expectations of our guests, colleagues and partners continue to evolve, we’re excited to keep learning, improving and playing our part in creating a more sustainable future for hospitality.